Maree Oranmore capture Michael Byrne Cup after 11-goal thriller
Stunning final finishes 5-5 after normal time before Asogu fires home the winner in final minute of extra-time
Maree Oranmore FC manager, Brendan O’Connor, was confident his side could claim the Michael Byrne Cup title on Wednesday night if his side could perform to their ability, and his confidence was justified after his side claimed the coveted piece of silverware after a 11-goal thriller in Eamonn Deacy Park.
Ify Asogu bagged the winner in the final minute of extra-time to clinch a 6-5 win over a Salthill Devon side that was looking to make it a cup double, having lifted the Connacht Junior Cup at the weekend.
However, Asogu's goal meant the three main top-flight trophies all went to different homes, with Colga FC having won their first-ever Premier Division title earlier this month.
“It was an unbelievable game," O'Connor said of Wednesday night's win.
"We started the game really well. We went 2-0 up and then we let them back in it, but I thought we were excellent. You can analyse it and some of the goals we conceded were soft, but it was an unbelievable game. Everyone is just raving about how good of a game it was,” he said.
Maree/Oranmore were the only side to beat Salthill Devon in the league this season, and they took just two minutes to open the scoring here, Donnacha McNamara firing home after Gavin Smyth had blocked at attempted clearance by Salthill Devon goalkeeper, Cian Mulryan.
Colm Whelan doubled their lead eight minutes later, before Devon pulled a goal through Enda Curran, who had scored the winner in their 3-2 win over Colga in last Sunday's provincial cup final.
McNamara restored his side's two-goal advantage in the 28th minute, but Paul Scally headed home a free-kick from Colin Kelly right on the stroke of half-time to see Maree/Oranmore lead 3-2 at the break.
Whelan scored his second of the game when converting a penalty to give Maree/Oranmore a 4-2 lead, and when Curran saw a spot-kick of his own saved by Conor Winn at the other end minutes later, O'Connor's side looked to be cruising to the win.
However, Princewill Diala came off the bench to haunt his former side, scoring in the 79th and 84th minutes to drag Salthill Devon.
There was still tome for two more twists: Whelan completed his hat-trick in the third minute of injury-time to seemingly hand his side the cup, but Kelly popped up in the eighth minute of additional time to make it 5-5 and send the game to extra-time.
The contest then seemed to be heading for penalties as the clock ticked into the 20th and final minute of extra-time when Asogu popped up with what finally proved to be the winner.
“It’s one of the best games I have ever been involved in for sure, it is right up there. I’ll be honest, no game ever stands out to me, but it was incredible. It was just end to end. Some of the goals that were scored were incredible. I am just really happy for our lads," O'Connor said after the game.